Architecture and method for integrating and presenting medical information

ABSTRACT

The method is for navigating in a computer device containing medical information. A first medical module ( 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 ) and a second medical module ( 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 ) of a module menu are provided. The first medical module is different from the second medical module. A display ( 200 ) displays the module menu ( 204 ) and a bookmark activation device ( 228 ) for activating a bookmark module ( 290 ). The first medical module from the module menu is selected and a first information segment in the first medical module is marked as a first bookmark. The second medical module is selected and a second information segment in the second medical module is marked as a second bookmark. The first and second bookmarks are stored in the bookmark module ( 290 ). The bookmark activation device is triggered to activate and display the second bookmark module.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an architecture and method forintegrating and presenting medical information.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Attempts have been made to improve the handling and presentation ofcomplex medical information to the medical profession. However, thecurrently available method and systems are still quite cumbersome to useparticularly when used in connection with handheld computers such as PDAdevices. There is a need for a reliable and effective way of integratingand presenting medical information.

The present invention provides a solution to the above-outlinedproblems. More particularly, the method is for navigating in a computerdevice containing medical information. A first medical module and asecond medical module of a module menu are provided. The first medicalmodule is different from the second medical module. A display displaysthe module menu and a bookmark activation device for activating abookmark module. The first medical module from the module menu isselected and a first information segment in the first medical module ismarked as a first bookmark. The second medical module is selected and asecond information segment in the second medical module is marked as asecond bookmark. The first and second bookmarks are stored in thebookmark module. The bookmark activation device is triggered to activateand display the second bookmark module. Flash memory (track of latestentries module) and linking inside modules and between modules areimportant features also that all modules can be accessed at all times inthe main menu and the flash and bookmarks modules

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a national reference data interactionmodule assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a regional reference data interactionmodule assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a first sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a second sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a third sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a fourth sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a fifth sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a sixth sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 9 is a seventh sample display of a database mode of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-9, the present invention is a uniquearchitecture and method for integrating and presenting medicalinformation on a computer device such as a hand-held PDA computerdevices or any other single task device to shorten the administrativework carried out by physicians and other medical professionals. Themethod also provides for improved patient security regarding druginformation. The invention has a reference data component and acommunication component. The reference data component may includenational, regional and individual levels, as described below. Animportant aspect of the present invention is the selection of modules,how the modules interact with one another and the layout of thepresentation of the module information.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a national reference data interactionmodule assembly 10 that has a drug interaction module 12, a prescriptionmodule 14, an ICD classification module 16, surgical procedures module18, book modules 20, reference source module 22, scheduling module 24,and a miscellaneous module 26. The modules may work together. Forexample, the modules 12 and 14 may interact with one another. Themodules 12, 14, 16 may also interact and link to a drug encyclopediamodule 28 and the module 16 may interact with a DSM IV classificationmodule 30. The scheduling module 24 may interact with an address module32.

The encyclopedia module 28 may include short descriptions of the variousdrugs used. The module may be connected to databases such as FASS andPDR. When the interaction section of the drug 28 for a particular drugis insufficient, the user may activate the interaction module 12 toobtain more detailed information about how drugs may interact when apatient is using more than one drug. It may also be possible to searchin the module 12. For example, if a patient is using five drugs, it ispossible to search for all known interactions between the five drugsused by the patient.

The module 14 may be connected to a database that has standard or commonprescriptions for the drugs listed in, for example, the FASS database.The module 14 may include standard text that may be used by theprofessional who is prescribing the drugs. The module 16 may includestandard classification codes for each diagnosis, such as ICD 10 and ICD9CM. More in depth diagnosis DSM codes for psychiatric diseases may befound in the module 30. However, psychiatric diagnoses may also have ICDcodes. The module 30 may also be linked directly to the encyclopediamodule 28.

The module 18 includes classification codes for surgical procedures. Thebook module 20 may include a plurality of medical reference books.Module 22 may include useful items such as calculators, tables forcalorie requirements, body mass index calculations, body surfacecalculations and other formulas. The module 22 may also include laws andregulations that apply to the medical profession. The module may alsohave physiological reference values such as physiological and chemicalreference values including normal values for chemical laboratories etc.The module 24 is an on-call schedule so that the physician can see whois on call during certain dates. The module 24 may interact with anaddress module 32 that includes, for example, the address and othervital contact information to the physicians in a certain area. Themodule 26 may also include miscellaneous information such as advertisingand entertainment programs. The system may include additional modulessuch as personal documents module 400, e-prescription module 402 andpatient information system module 404. Other modules may also be addedas desired by the user.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a regional reference data interactionmodule assembly 50 that may have a regional drug module 52 that includesinformation about regionally recommended drugs that may interact withthe prescription module 14 of the national module assembly 10. If thephysician prescribes a drug that is not regionally recommended areminder may appear to prescribe the equivalent regionally recommendeddrug. The assembly 50 may also have a regional telephone directorymodule 54, regional treatment module 56, regional administrativeroutines module 58 and other regional information module 60 that mayinclude miscellaneous regional information that may be useful to aprofessional in medicine. The module 54 may be focused on telephonenumbers to regional medical facilities. The module 56 may includeregional recommended treatment methods that may differ from treatmentmethods used in other regions. The module 58 may include informationabout regional administrative rules ranging from regional overtimereporting and payment and charging practices.

The individual reference data interaction module assembly includes adocumentation module that may interact with Macintosh and PC documents.The module includes a conversion program that may be used to convertdocuments to a PDA file format so that hierarchic and non-hierarchicpictures and text may be transferred. The plug-in module supportsformats such as word processing programs, graphics programs, HTML andother currently used formats so that outside text and pictures may beviewed in the architecture of the present invention. Of course, themodule may be adapted to support other formats also. The end user isprovided with a specific program that allows for hierarchic conversionfrom MS word and Excel with full support for pictures, text and tables.The hierarchic conversion is done by using headers H1, H2, H3 . . . H7.Each header size creates a new sublevel in the architecture of thehandheld computer. The documents are fully integrated and allows forsearch, book marking, flash memory, notes and more.

The communication module assembly 90 describes how the communicationbetween the platform of the present invention and outside sources maytake place. The assembly may have a reference data assembly 92, acommunication module 94 and the document module 72. The assembly may beused to add, for example, information to the prescription module andpatient charts. The assembly may include the reference modules.

The communication module 94 may be used for many communication purposessuch as communicating with a pharmacist to deliver prescriptions andregistering certain illness in a registration program. The communicationmodule may also be used to send survey information, provide side-effectreports, send medical certificates, provide feedback to drug companies,send information to billing department, provide information to researchgroups etc. The assembly may have a synchronization unit 96 forsynchronizing information flows between the modules 92, 94 and PC/Macand other types of documents on the Internet 98 and a middle server 100.The middle server may be used to communicate with, for example,pharmacies, health monitoring units, drug manufacturers, insurancecompanies and research facilities. The server 100 may also be used forsurveys and computer journal systems. The unit 96 may communicate viathe PDA cradle or use infrared and blue-tooth communication techniques.For example, when the user needs to send a prescription, by using theprescription module 14, the user simply places the PDA unit in the PDAcradle and press activate. A signal 116 is sent from the assembly 92 andincludes the prescription module 14, to the synchronization unit 96 thatsynchronizes the signal and forwards a synchronized signal 118 to themiddle server 100. The middle server 100 may then forward theprescription information to the pharmacist via any known communicationmedia such as the Internet. The middle server 100 may also send back aconfirmation signal to the user of the module assembly 92 to confirmthat the signal has arrived to the correct pharmacist. The user may alsouse an infra red or blue tooth synchronization command on the PDA tosend communication signals.

The assembly 90 may also be connected with a local area network unit 102to enable correspondence between the modules 92, 94 and the Internet 98and the middle server 100. The user may connect the PDA to the localarea network 102 and send messages from the PDA via the network 102. Forexample, patient charts are often only available on the network unit 102to privacy/security reasons. The assembly may further include a mobilephone connection unit 104 to facilitate the communication between themodules 92, 94 and the Internet 98 and the middle server 100.

If desired, any communication material may be printed by sendingprinting signals from the module 94 to a printing unit 108, such asusing infra red, blue tooth and cradle communication techniques. Asindicated earlier, the document companion module 72 may be used tointeract, such as by placing the PDA in the PDA cradle, with PC/Mac anddatabase documents 110 and with other PDA devices 112 via an infraredunit 114.

The assembly 90 may also be used to, for example, update the moduleassemblies 10, 50, 90. If the user needs to update one of the plug-inmodules such as the encyclopedia module 28 of the assembly 10, the usermay place the PDA in the PDA cradle and activate the updating function.The updating of the secure digital (SD) cards of the PDA may occurautomatically or manually so that the module 28 receives updatedinformation via one of the communication units 96, 102, 104. Of course,any other suitable card or storage technology may be used. Almost allinformation needed, except the patient charts, may be stored on the PDA.The patient charts cannot be stored, for legal and privacy reasons, andmust be obtain via the network unit 102.

FIG. 3 is an example of a display 200 of a PDA unit 198 that has adoctor companion tab 202 and a module tab or arrow 204 at an upper endof the display 200. By activating the tab 204, the display shows a dropmenu that lists all the modules available on the PDA 198, such as themodules 12, 14, 16 etc. described in FIG. 1. The user may add and deletemodules from the unit 198, as desired, since each module is a plug-inmodule.

For illustrative purposes, the user has selected the module 28,associated with the FASS database, so that a long list of drugs isshown. By pressing on the tab 204 again a new module may be displayed.It should be noted that the user may change to another module at anytime by pressing the tab 204 with a cursor or electronic pen.

By activating the tab 202, the display 200 displays a sub-menu 206including a unit 208, alternative tab 210 and help tab 212, as shown inFIG. 4. While in the mode of the unit 208, the display 200 displays amenu 212 of sub-groups of the module 28 such as ATC codes, pregnancy andbreast feeding issues related to the drugs listed in the FASS database.On the right side of the menu 212 is a short-cut list 214 of quickcommands to activate each sub-group by pressing, for example, the shortcut command “/4” to a sub-menu for pregnancy and breast feeding. Thealternative tab 210 may be used as an alternative to the bar 216 becausethe commands such as search, back arrow, forward arrow, home etc. areshown in the tab 210.

All the main displays have the common tool bar 216 at the lower end ofthe display. The bar 216 may have a house button 218 with a right arrow220 and a left arrow 222 on each side of the button 218. By activatingthe button 218, the user may go back to the starting position orstarting menu of each module. The arrows 220, 222 permit the user to goforward or backward within a module. For example, if the user hasactivated one of the drugs listed in the menu 200 and needs to go backto the initial menu, the user may click on the back arrow 222. Thearrows 220, 222 may also be used to move between different plug-inmodules such as between the module 28 and the drug interaction module 12and then back to the module 28. The arrows have functions that aresimilar to arrow commands used by the Internet browser.

The tool bar 216 also has a flash button 224, notes button 226 andbookmarks button 228. The button 224 may be used as a quick memory thatsaves the first (n) number of the latest searches in a chronologicalorder for each plug-in module. When search number (n+1) is conducted,the first search will disappear from the short-term memory list. Thebutton 226 permits the user to make personal notes in connection with asearch. The notes are saved and available next time the user activatesthe particular plug-in module. The button 228 permits the user to createa personal quick register that may include a certain number of items.The bar 216 also has a search command 230 that starts the search enginesin the particular plug-in module that is being used. The bar 216 alsohas a clock 232 and by clicking on the clock, a timer is displayed. Thetimer has a stopwatch and a unique heart rate calculator. Here the usercan simply tap the buttons on the handheld computer or the screendirectly, while doing this a flashing heart will appear on the screenand the tapping frequency will be displayed in numbers. This instrumentallows the user to check the heart rate/pulse of the patient withouthaving to rely on a watch. The help button 212 may include manuals foreach plug-in module to aid the user in how to operate the system.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of a display 234 that shows details of adrug listed in the display 200 of FIG. 3. The user may select a drugfrom the display 200 and activate it to show details of the selecteddrug, as shown in the display 234. In other words, the display may showinformation at a more detailed level that is below the list of drugsshown in the display 200.

Because the width of a typical PDA display such as the display 234 isoften shorter than the length of a typical sentence, the whole sentencecannot be shown in the display. However, the user may mark or tap a line236 with an electronic pen 238 and then hold the pen on the line and thedisplay will scroll to the right to show the whole sentence.

If the user wants to go down one level, the user merely taps an item inthe display. If the user wants to view an entire sentence, when thesentence is longer than the width of the display, the user taps andholds the pen on the selected line the full text will then appear in adialogue box. When tap and hold is applied to pictures a zoomfunctionality appears for the selected part if the picture, the zoompart follows when the pen moves around the screen. The user may alsoswitch module by clicking on the tab 204 to display a menu of anothermodule, such as the ICD module 16, as shown in FIG. 1. The same tap andhold commands apply to the new module and other modules.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative example of a sub-menu 240 including underlinedtext that functions as links 242. The menu 240 also includes free text244 and the user may put the pen 238 directly on the text 244, wherethere is no link text 242, and pull the text in a desired direction withthe pen 238. The user may also activate a scroll bar 246 on the rightside of the menu 240 and pull a marker up and down to correspondinglymove the text up and down. The user may also click with the pen 238 onarrows 248, 250 to move within the text 244. When clicking on a link,the information, such as text, pictures and tables, opens and expands.The link is visible on top and when the user scrolls the next linkappears at the bottom of the information. By clicking on the back arrowthe user is taken to the non-expanded start-point.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustrative view 260 of a search pop-up window262 that may be shown by activating the search command 230 in the toolbar 216. The menu in the window 262 is customized to the particularmodule that is in use. For example, when the module 28 is used, thewindow 262 enables the user to search for a drug by the name of thegeneric substance of the drug or by the trademark of the drug. When themodule 12 is used, the user may search for the drug trademark, thegeneric name or an interaction search command. The interaction searchcommand is a multiple interaction search command that enables a searchfor many drug names to determine the interactive effect therebetween.When the module 16 is used, the user may search by classification code264 or word description 266. The search words may be entered on a line268 in the window 262 and the user may select the level of the wordsearch by marking a category box 270 or a section box 272. By markingthe box 272, the user may obtain all diagnosis available for a drug.

FIG. 8 shows a flash memory display 280 that lists the latest searchesfor a particular module. The user may change the module by pressing thetab 282 to list the latest search commands for a different module. Theuser may scroll down the list 284 by pressing an arrow 286 or bydragging the text down with the electronic pen. As indicated above, thedisplay 280 may be designed so that when the display is full and theuser would like to add one more search command, the display 280 willdelete the oldest or first search command. The cache memory may becleared by marking a box 288 and press an okay button 289.

FIG. 9 shows a bookmark view/module 290 that the user may use tobookmark favorite information in each module 12-32, as shown in FIG. 1.The module 290 may be displayed by activating the bookmark 228 so thatthe bookmarks for the particular module that has been selected aredisplayed. An important feature of the method of the present inventionis that the user may jump directly to the bookmarks of other moduleswithout having to restart each module and then find the bookmarks. Theuser may change module by clicking on a tab 292 so that the user may,for example, switch from the module 12 to the module 16 while the useris within the bookmark module 292. When an interesting page orinformation segment 295 has been found, the user may bookmark the pageby marking a bookmark box 294 and an okay button 296. The user may clearthe memory cache by marking a clearance box 298 and pressing the button296. The user may display previously selected bookmarks from othermodule by activating the tab 292 and selecting another module to displaya list 297 of the bookmarks 295 for that other selected module. The usermay then select the bookmark 295 of interest from the list 297 and pressshow 299 to display the entire information segment of the bookmark 295.The bookmark 295 and other bookmarks may be deleted by pressing a deletebutton 301.

It is also possible to bookmark one segment many times so that more thanone module may have the same bookmark.

It may also be possible to add a survey module that may be used fornational, regional as well as local/individual content applications. Theuser may use the module to fill out various surveys/feedback documentssuch as studies of disease, reports on side effects of drugs etc. Thedocuments may be synchronized over mobile telephone, cradle, infrared,bluetooth and WLAN directly over to an xml compatible database or anyother suitable database. The survey module may be customized andconverted to PDA format by the user in the computer by using a surveycompanion program and then be transferred to the hand held computer. Theuser may then fill out the survey on the hand held computer andsynchronize it over to an xml based or any other type of database forfurther processing.

While the present invention has been described in accordance withpreferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood thatcertain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1. A method for navigating in a computer device containing medicalinformation, comprising: providing a first medical module (12, 14, 16,18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) and a second medical module (12, 14, 16, 18,20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30) of a module menu, the first medical module beingdifferent from the second medical module: providing a display (200)displaying the module menu (204) and a bookmark activation device (228)for activating a bookmark modules (290); selecting the first medicalmodule from the module menu and marking a first information segment inthe first medical module as a first bookmark; selecting the secondmedical module and marking a second information segment in the secondmedical module as a second bookmark, the first and second bookmarksbeing stored in the bookmark module (290); and activating the bookmarkactivation device to activate and display the second bookmark module. 2.The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprisesactivating a module menu tab 292 in the bookmark module (290) andselecting the first medical module to trigger the bookmark module todisplay the first bookmark.
 3. The method according to claim 1 whereinthe method further comprises, selecting the second medical module sothat the bookmark module displays the second bookmark.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises activating aflash memory (224) to display a latest search command.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises associatingthe second medical module to the first bookmark while the first bookmarkis associated with the first medical module.
 6. The method according toclaim 1 wherein the method further comprises clearing a memory cache(298) containing all bookmarks.
 7. The method according to claim 1wherein the method further comprises activating a back arrow (222). 8.The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprisesactivating a forward arrow (220).
 9. The method according to claim 1wherein the method further comprises using a word processing header H1,. . . H7 to create hierarchical conversion of documents.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises using a linkto move within a module and move to another module and using anexpanding link to expand a text portion between existing links.